“Together with the earth we exist within seven interpenetrating spheres and we grow into them, enter into them, enter into connection with them in the course of our life. Our life from birth to death is unfolded out of our own inherent tendencies, in as much as the star spheres draw us from birth to death.” True and False Paths in Spiritual Investigation Lecture 6 - 1924
All seven types are present in every human soul, with one or two types tending to predominate, but throughout adulthood the development of character will address one-sided tendencies. As a teacher it is necessary to be inwardly mobile in order to meet the challenges that these seven soul aspects will provide us with.
At puberty with the birth of the soul, the soul is now no longer in the service of the physical body and it meets the resistance of the earth. The basic principle of astral activity is the forces of the planets. During life between death and new birth we pass through the planetary spheres and absorb the specific qualities of that sphere. At the world midnight hour after the ascent, when all ties with the earth have been cut, there is the decision to remain incomplete in the spiritual world (Luciferic temptation), or having seen the Christ-like image of the Cosmic Human Being – to then return and transform the soul. For the duration of earthly life, the astral body as a vehicle for soul forces is imperfect – it must be purified; and transformed through love.
The incarnating soul consciously meets the resistance of the earth and by overcoming this resistance; the metamorphosis from incarnating to excarnating planetary forces takes place. In the life between death and new life, once again the soul journeys through the planetary spheres, expanding out once again beyond the gateway of Saturn to the fixed stars
THE PLANETS
Saturn Saturn is an entirely self-engrossed heavenly body in our planetary system, raying his own being into the universe. When we contemplate Saturn, he tells us always what he is. Whereas the Moon — contemplated in its external aspect — tells us about everything else in the universe, Saturn tells us nothing at all about the impulses he receives from the universe. He speaks only of himself, tells us only what he himself is. And what he is reveals itself gradually as a kind of memory of the planetary system. Saturn presents himself to us as the heavenly individuality who has steadfastly participated in whatever has come to pass in our planetary system and has faithfully preserved it in his cosmic memory. Saturn is the constant tempter of those who listen to his secrets; he tempts them to give little heed to earthly affairs of today and to immerse themselves in what the Earth once was. Those who have a particular inclination towards Saturn in earthly existence are people who like to be gazing always into the past, who are opposed to progress, who ever and again want to bring back the past. [But…] To Saturn he owes all the impulses of soul and spirit he can receive from the cosmic past. On the other hand, Mars and especially Jupiter and Saturn when a man has a right relationship with them, act as liberating factors. They wrest man away from what is determined by destiny and make him into a free being. Steiner
Other Researchers – Max Stibbe, Bernard Lievegoed
Strong inner life – inner world dominant, weak connection to the outer world; strong contact with the past and memory; can close themselves off to the outside world (beware the ivory tower)– are sustained by the memory of the original source of things; is the planet of Death and Resurrection and the conquest of matter by spirit; the investigator.
Colour – Deep Blue; Metal – Lead; Organ – the spleen.
The Moon The Moon is not the mirror of the Sun's light only, for it reflects everything that radiates upon it — the radiations of the solar light being, of course, by far the strongest. All the heavenly bodies in the universe send their rays towards the Moon, and the Moon — as a mirror of the universe — then radiates them back in every direction.
It can be said, therefore, that the universe is before us in a twofold aspect. It reveals itself in the environment of the Earth and is radiated back by the Moon. The Sun's rays work with tremendous power in themselves and also in their reflection from the Moon. But every other radiation in cosmic space is also reflected by the Moon.
When a human being comes down from pre-earthly life into earthly existence, it is the Moon impulse that provides the forces for his physical existence. What the Moon is able to reflect from the whole universe forms the sum-total of the forces which sustain the animal world of the Earth, especially the forces that are connected with the sexual nature of animals; these forces also sustain the animal element in man and are connected with his sexual nature in its physical aspect.
… the lower nature of man is a product of what radiates from the Moon, while the highest wisdom once possessed by the Earth lies concealed within the Moon fortress. The Moon, which enshrines the Beings living in strict seclusion, and reflects only what is first radiated to it from the universe, builds and fashions the outer form, the body of man. It is therefore by the Moon that the forces of heredity are incorporated in his bodily constitution. The Moon is the cosmic citadel of those spiritual Beings who, in complete seclusion, muse upon what is transmitted in the stream of heredity flowing from generation to generation by way of the physical. . One of the destiny-determining planets, along with Venus and Mercury. Steiner
Other Researchers – Max Stibbe, Bernard Lievegoed
Strongly receptive inner life – the dreaming type; gets lost in moods and feelings; (can give rise to the wildest fantasies without artistic coherence); artistic nature; fertile replication, unconsciously mirrors what happens in the outside world (can be a know-it-all without own insights); is timeless, works in the hereditary stream and procreation/reproduction. Active in the nervous system – the external world is reflected internally; intellectual dreaming.
Colour – Purple; Metal – Silver; Organ – the brain. Jupiter
Jupiter is the Thinker in our planetary system, and thinking is the activity cultivated by all the Beings in his cosmic domain. Creative thoughts received from the universe radiate to us from Jupiter. Jupiter contains, in the form of thoughts, all the formative forces for the different orders of cosmic Beings. Whereas Saturn tells of the past, Jupiter gives a living portrayal of what is connected with him in the cosmic present. But what Jupiter reveals to the eye of spirit must be grasped with thoughtful intelligence… When efforts to bring clarity of thought to bear upon some weighty problem of existence are unsuccessful because of physical, etheric, and especially astral hindrances, the Jupiter Beings come to the help of mankind… that it is the Jupiter powers who imbue human thinking with mobility and vigour. To Jupiter man owes all the impulses he is able to receive from the spiritual present in the universe.. Creative thoughts received from the universe radiate to us from Jupiter. Jupiter contains, in the form of thoughts, all the formative forces for the different orders of cosmic Beings. But what Jupiter reveals to the eye of spirit must be grasped with thoughtful intelligence. If a man does not himself make efforts to develop his capacities of thinking, he cannot, even if he is clairvoyant, approach the mysteries of Jupiter, for they are revealed in the form of thoughts and can be approached only through a genuine activity of thinking. Steiner
Other Researchers – Max Stibbe, Bernard Lievegoed.
Balancing the inner and outer worlds; the chaotic tendencies of the outer world are organized from the inner world; doesn’t lose him/herself in the outer world; need for clear-sighted thought – thought permeated with wisdom, actively arranges inner and outer worlds; striving for the larger picture in everything, overlooking and ordering the world according to rules. Lofty beauty in Order – subjective soul life becomes spiritually objective; the thinker.
Colour – orange; Metal – Tin; Organ – the liver. Mercury
In contrast to the other planets, Mercury is not interested in things of a physical, material nature as such, but in whatever is capable of co-ordination. Mercury is the domain of the Masters of co-ordinative thinking. Mercury provides the forces for capacities of intellect and reason, especially of intellect. The Masters of the forces of co-ordinative knowledge and mental activity have their habitation in Mercury. Venus and Mercury bring into the human being the karmic element that is connected more with the life of soul and spirit and comes to expression in the qualities of heart and in the temperament. One of the destiny-determining planets, along with Jupiter and Mercury. Steiner
Other Researchers – Max Stibbe, Bernard Lievegoed.
Balance in inner and outer life, the mobile type – the chaos from the outer world directs the inner world; the inner/outer worlds are connected more passively – the outer streams in and the inner flows back more freely because of the receptivity of the of inner soul life; doesn’t reorganize the inner world with inner resources, but acts instantly after observation – tension between observation and reaction are resolved instantly by doing; great empathy with others, knows what must happen in the moment; quick thoughts, but may lack depth and wisdom; sensitive chaos, flowing into everything where appropriate; outer movement is met with inner movement; endless variations within a given form; brings things into movement;a joker; (can be dishonest); the innovator.
Colour – Yellow; Metal – Mercury; Organ – the lungs. Venus
Venus provides the forces for the basic qualities of heart and temperament. Venus wards off the universe. She is difficult to approach; she does not want to know anything about the universe. Her attitude is that if she were to expose herself to the external universe, she would lose her virginal nature. On the other hand, Venus is highly responsive to everything that comes from the Earth. The Earth is, so to speak, her lover. Whereas the Moon reflects the whole surrounding universe, Venus reflects nothing at all of the universe, wants to know nothing of it. But she lovingly reflects whatever comes from the Earth. If with the eyes of soul we are able to glimpse the mysteries of Venus, the whole Earth with its secrets of the life of soul is there before us once again.
The truth is that human beings on Earth can do nothing in the secrecy of their souls without it being reflected back again by Venus. Venus gazes deeply into the hearts of human beings, for that is what interests her, that is what she will allow to approach her. Thus the most intimate experiences of earthly life are reflected again from Venus, in a mysterious and wonderful way. In the reflection she transforms everything, just as a dream transforms the happenings of physical existence. Venus transforms the occurrences of earthly life into dream-pictures. In reality, therefore, the whole sphere of Venus is a world of dream. The secrets of men in their earthly existenc, are transformed by Venus into dream-pictures of infinite diversity. She has a very great deal to do with poets, although they are not aware of it. Venus repels what approaches her from the universe but not what comes from the Earth. As I said before, she declines every would-be suitor, but for all that she listens attentively to the utterances of Mars. She transforms and illumines her dreamlike experiences of earthly things with what is communicated to her from the universe through Mars. One of the destiny-determining planets, along with Moon and Mercury. Steiner
Other Researchers – Max Stibbe, Bernard Lievegoed.
Lives with the soul in the outer world, but more with the feeling part: sympathies and antipathies – forms judgements, either positive or negative; timeless with instant reactions; has an inherent need for an aesthetic world and evaluates the world in terms of this; creates environments, makes space for something else to develop or manifest – connected with listening, care, receptivity; is discriminating with respect to the essential. Aesthetic.
Colour –green; Metal – copper; Organ – the kidneys. Mars The element of freedom in speech is due to the fact that Mars too has been gracious. Because Mars was obliged as it were to acquiesce in the resolution made by the other outer planets and could not exercise any greater coercion, man is free, in a certain respect, in the realm of speech too — not entirely, but in a certain respect free. Mars is constantly blurting out to the souls in his sphere whatever in the cosmos is accessible to him — which is not everything. Mars does little thinking. He has few thinkers, but many talkers, in his sphere. Mars is the planetary individuality who in the course of the evolution of humanity instigates human beings in manifold ways to make statements about the mysteries of the cosmos. Mars has his good and his less good sides — he has his Genius and his Demon. His Genius works in such a way that men receive from the universe the impulses for speech; the influence of his Demon results in speech being misused in many and various ways. In a certain sense Mars may be called the Agitator in our universe. He is always out to persuade, whereas Jupiter wants only to convince. Steiner
Other Researchers – Max Stibbe, Bernard Lievegoed.
The outer world is more dominant, participates actively in the outer world; has energy and inner strength, takes up the outer world into his/her own being; speaking type but is active with both words and deeds; feels at home in the world and works with it; speech and action connected with the future; reorganizes the world with inner resources; inner activity carried out into the world and this reveals the inner being – will move until it meets resistance. The entrepreneur.
Colour – Red; Metal – Iron; Organ – the gall bladder. Sun In the midst of all these deeds and impulses of the planetary individualities stands the Sun, creating harmony between the liberating and the destiny-determining planets. The Sun is the individuality in whom the element of necessity in destiny and the element of human freedom interweave in a most wonderful way. And no-one can understand what is contained in the flaming brilliance of the Sun unless he is able to behold this interweaving life of destiny and freedom in the light which spreads out into the universe and concentrates again in the solar warmth. The Sun is as it were the flame in which freedom becomes a luminous reality in the universe; and at the same time the Sun is the substance in which, as condensed ashes, misused freedom is moulded into destiny — until destiny itself can become luminous and pass over into the flame of freedom. Steiner
Other Researchers – Max Stibbe, Bernard Lievegoed.
Perfectly harmoniously relationship between the inner and the outer; the radiant type – the ideal to which the one-sided types can strive; balance, harmonizing.
Colour – White; Metal – Gold; Organ – the heart.
THE SEVEN SOUL TYPES
INTRODUCTION
“Together with the earth we exist within seven interpenetrating spheres and we grow into them, enter into them, enter into connection with them in the course of our life. Our life from birth to death is unfolded out of our own inherent tendencies, in as much as the star spheres draw us from birth to death.” True and False Paths in Spiritual Investigation Lecture 6 - 1924
All seven types are present in every human soul, with one or two types tending to predominate, but throughout adulthood the development of character will address one-sided tendencies. As a teacher it is necessary to be inwardly mobile in order to meet the challenges that these seven soul aspects will provide us with.
At puberty with the birth of the soul, the soul is now no longer in the service of the physical body and it meets the resistance of the earth. The basic principle of astral activity is the forces of the planets. During life between death and new birth we pass through the planetary spheres and absorb the specific qualities of that sphere. At the world midnight hour after the ascent, when all ties with the earth have been cut, there is the decision to remain incomplete in the spiritual world (Luciferic temptation), or having seen the Christ-like image of the Cosmic Human Being – to then return and transform the soul. For the duration of earthly life, the astral body as a vehicle for soul forces is imperfect – it must be purified; and transformed through love.
The incarnating soul consciously meets the resistance of the earth and by overcoming this resistance; the metamorphosis from incarnating to excarnating planetary forces takes place. In the life between death and new life, once again the soul journeys through the planetary spheres, expanding out once again beyond the gateway of Saturn to the fixed stars
THE PLANETS
Saturn
Saturn is an entirely self-engrossed heavenly body in our planetary system, raying his own being into the universe. When we contemplate Saturn, he tells us always what he is. Whereas the Moon — contemplated in its external aspect — tells us about everything else in the universe, Saturn tells us nothing at all about the impulses he receives from the universe. He speaks only of himself, tells us only what he himself is. And what he is reveals itself gradually as a kind of memory of the planetary system. Saturn presents himself to us as the heavenly individuality who has steadfastly participated in whatever has come to pass in our planetary system and has faithfully preserved it in his cosmic memory. Saturn is the constant tempter of those who listen to his secrets; he tempts them to give little heed to earthly affairs of today and to immerse themselves in what the Earth once was. Those who have a particular inclination towards Saturn in earthly existence are people who like to be gazing always into the past, who are opposed to progress, who ever and again want to bring back the past. [But…] To Saturn he owes all the impulses of soul and spirit he can receive from the cosmic past. On the other hand, Mars and especially Jupiter and Saturn when a man has a right relationship with them, act as liberating factors. They wrest man away from what is determined by destiny and make him into a free being. Steiner
Other Researchers – Max Stibbe, Bernard Lievegoed
Strong inner life – inner world dominant, weak connection to the outer world; strong contact with the past and memory; can close themselves off to the outside world (beware the ivory tower)– are sustained by the memory of the original source of things; is the planet of Death and Resurrection and the conquest of matter by spirit; the investigator.
Colour – Deep Blue; Metal – Lead; Organ – the spleen.
The Moon
The Moon is not the mirror of the Sun's light only, for it reflects everything that radiates upon it — the radiations of the solar light being, of course, by far the strongest. All the heavenly bodies in the universe send their rays towards the Moon, and the Moon — as a mirror of the universe — then radiates them back in every direction.
It can be said, therefore, that the universe is before us in a twofold aspect. It reveals itself in the environment of the Earth and is radiated back by the Moon. The Sun's rays work with tremendous power in themselves and also in their reflection from the Moon. But every other radiation in cosmic space is also reflected by the Moon.
When a human being comes down from pre-earthly life into earthly existence, it is the Moon impulse that provides the forces for his physical existence. What the Moon is able to reflect from the whole universe forms the sum-total of the forces which sustain the animal world of the Earth, especially the forces that are connected with the sexual nature of animals; these forces also sustain the animal element in man and are connected with his sexual nature in its physical aspect.
… the lower nature of man is a product of what radiates from the Moon, while the highest wisdom once possessed by the Earth lies concealed within the Moon fortress. The Moon, which enshrines the Beings living in strict seclusion, and reflects only what is first radiated to it from the universe, builds and fashions the outer form, the body of man. It is therefore by the Moon that the forces of heredity are incorporated in his bodily constitution. The Moon is the cosmic citadel of those spiritual Beings who, in complete seclusion, muse upon what is transmitted in the stream of heredity flowing from generation to generation by way of the physical. . One of the destiny-determining planets, along with Venus and Mercury. Steiner
Other Researchers – Max Stibbe, Bernard Lievegoed
Strongly receptive inner life – the dreaming type; gets lost in moods and feelings; (can give rise to the wildest fantasies without artistic coherence); artistic nature; fertile replication, unconsciously mirrors what happens in the outside world (can be a know-it-all without own insights); is timeless, works in the hereditary stream and procreation/reproduction. Active in the nervous system – the external world is reflected internally; intellectual dreaming.
Colour – Purple; Metal – Silver; Organ – the brain.
Jupiter
Jupiter is the Thinker in our planetary system, and thinking is the activity cultivated by all the Beings in his cosmic domain. Creative thoughts received from the universe radiate to us from Jupiter. Jupiter contains, in the form of thoughts, all the formative forces for the different orders of cosmic Beings. Whereas Saturn tells of the past, Jupiter gives a living portrayal of what is connected with him in the cosmic present. But what Jupiter reveals to the eye of spirit must be grasped with thoughtful intelligence… When efforts to bring clarity of thought to bear upon some weighty problem of existence are unsuccessful because of physical, etheric, and especially astral hindrances, the Jupiter Beings come to the help of mankind… that it is the Jupiter powers who imbue human thinking with mobility and vigour. To Jupiter man owes all the impulses he is able to receive from the spiritual present in the universe.. Creative thoughts received from the universe radiate to us from Jupiter. Jupiter contains, in the form of thoughts, all the formative forces for the different orders of cosmic Beings. But what Jupiter reveals to the eye of spirit must be grasped with thoughtful intelligence. If a man does not himself make efforts to develop his capacities of thinking, he cannot, even if he is clairvoyant, approach the mysteries of Jupiter, for they are revealed in the form of thoughts and can be approached only through a genuine activity of thinking. Steiner
Other Researchers – Max Stibbe, Bernard Lievegoed.
Balancing the inner and outer worlds; the chaotic tendencies of the outer world are organized from the inner world; doesn’t lose him/herself in the outer world; need for clear-sighted thought – thought permeated with wisdom, actively arranges inner and outer worlds; striving for the larger picture in everything, overlooking and ordering the world according to rules. Lofty beauty in Order – subjective soul life becomes spiritually objective; the thinker.
Colour – orange; Metal – Tin; Organ – the liver.
Mercury
In contrast to the other planets, Mercury is not interested in things of a physical, material nature as such, but in whatever is capable of co-ordination. Mercury is the domain of the Masters of co-ordinative thinking. Mercury provides the forces for capacities of intellect and reason, especially of intellect. The Masters of the forces of co-ordinative knowledge and mental activity have their habitation in Mercury. Venus and Mercury bring into the human being the karmic element that is connected more with the life of soul and spirit and comes to expression in the qualities of heart and in the temperament. One of the destiny-determining planets, along with Jupiter and Mercury. Steiner
Other Researchers – Max Stibbe, Bernard Lievegoed.
Balance in inner and outer life, the mobile type – the chaos from the outer world directs the inner world; the inner/outer worlds are connected more passively – the outer streams in and the inner flows back more freely because of the receptivity of the of inner soul life; doesn’t reorganize the inner world with inner resources, but acts instantly after observation – tension between observation and reaction are resolved instantly by doing; great empathy with others, knows what must happen in the moment; quick thoughts, but may lack depth and wisdom; sensitive chaos, flowing into everything where appropriate; outer movement is met with inner movement; endless variations within a given form; brings things into movement;a joker; (can be dishonest); the innovator.
Colour – Yellow; Metal – Mercury; Organ – the lungs.
Venus
Venus provides the forces for the basic qualities of heart and temperament. Venus wards off the universe. She is difficult to approach; she does not want to know anything about the universe. Her attitude is that if she were to expose herself to the external universe, she would lose her virginal nature. On the other hand, Venus is highly responsive to everything that comes from the Earth. The Earth is, so to speak, her lover. Whereas the Moon reflects the whole surrounding universe, Venus reflects nothing at all of the universe, wants to know nothing of it. But she lovingly reflects whatever comes from the Earth. If with the eyes of soul we are able to glimpse the mysteries of Venus, the whole Earth with its secrets of the life of soul is there before us once again.
The truth is that human beings on Earth can do nothing in the secrecy of their souls without it being reflected back again by Venus. Venus gazes deeply into the hearts of human beings, for that is what interests her, that is what she will allow to approach her. Thus the most intimate experiences of earthly life are reflected again from Venus, in a mysterious and wonderful way. In the reflection she transforms everything, just as a dream transforms the happenings of physical existence. Venus transforms the occurrences of earthly life into dream-pictures. In reality, therefore, the whole sphere of Venus is a world of dream. The secrets of men in their earthly existenc, are transformed by Venus into dream-pictures of infinite diversity. She has a very great deal to do with poets, although they are not aware of it. Venus repels what approaches her from the universe but not what comes from the Earth. As I said before, she declines every would-be suitor, but for all that she listens attentively to the utterances of Mars. She transforms and illumines her dreamlike experiences of earthly things with what is communicated to her from the universe through Mars. One of the destiny-determining planets, along with Moon and Mercury. Steiner
Other Researchers – Max Stibbe, Bernard Lievegoed.
Lives with the soul in the outer world, but more with the feeling part: sympathies and antipathies – forms judgements, either positive or negative; timeless with instant reactions; has an inherent need for an aesthetic world and evaluates the world in terms of this; creates environments, makes space for something else to develop or manifest – connected with listening, care, receptivity; is discriminating with respect to the essential. Aesthetic.
Colour –green; Metal – copper; Organ – the kidneys.
Mars
The element of freedom in speech is due to the fact that Mars too has been gracious. Because Mars was obliged as it were to acquiesce in the resolution made by the other outer planets and could not exercise any greater coercion, man is free, in a certain respect, in the realm of speech too — not entirely, but in a certain respect free. Mars is constantly blurting out to the souls in his sphere whatever in the cosmos is accessible to him — which is not everything. Mars does little thinking. He has few thinkers, but many talkers, in his sphere. Mars is the planetary individuality who in the course of the evolution of humanity instigates human beings in manifold ways to make statements about the mysteries of the cosmos. Mars has his good and his less good sides — he has his Genius and his Demon. His Genius works in such a way that men receive from the universe the impulses for speech; the influence of his Demon results in speech being misused in many and various ways. In a certain sense Mars may be called the Agitator in our universe. He is always out to persuade, whereas Jupiter wants only to convince. Steiner
Other Researchers – Max Stibbe, Bernard Lievegoed.
The outer world is more dominant, participates actively in the outer world; has energy and inner strength, takes up the outer world into his/her own being; speaking type but is active with both words and deeds; feels at home in the world and works with it; speech and action connected with the future; reorganizes the world with inner resources; inner activity carried out into the world and this reveals the inner being – will move until it meets resistance. The entrepreneur.
Colour – Red; Metal – Iron; Organ – the gall bladder.
Sun
In the midst of all these deeds and impulses of the planetary individualities stands the Sun, creating harmony between the liberating and the destiny-determining planets. The Sun is the individuality in whom the element of necessity in destiny and the element of human freedom interweave in a most wonderful way. And no-one can understand what is contained in the flaming brilliance of the Sun unless he is able to behold this interweaving life of destiny and freedom in the light which spreads out into the universe and concentrates again in the solar warmth. The Sun is as it were the flame in which freedom becomes a luminous reality in the universe; and at the same time the Sun is the substance in which, as condensed ashes, misused freedom is moulded into destiny — until destiny itself can become luminous and pass over into the flame of freedom. Steiner
Other Researchers – Max Stibbe, Bernard Lievegoed.
Perfectly harmoniously relationship between the inner and the outer; the radiant type – the ideal to which the one-sided types can strive; balance, harmonizing.
Colour – White; Metal – Gold; Organ – the heart.